Total heat exchange air conditioner

ABSTRACT

A total heat exchange air conditioner ( 20 ) includes at least an air-providing member ( 21 ) for providing an outlet airflow from indoors and an inlet airflow from outdoors, an air inlet passage and an air outlet passage isolating from each other for guiding the outlet and inlet airflows respectively flowing therein, a refrigerant line ( 25 ) spans across the air inlet passage for conducting sensible heat exchange between the inlet airflow and refrigerant filled in the refrigerant line, and a total heat exchange core ( 24 ) communicating with both the air inlet and air outlet passages for conducting a total heat exchange between the inlet and outlet airflows.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an air conditioner, and more particularly to a total heat exchange air conditioner for exchanging sensible and latent heat between airflows having different temperatures and humidities.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

In our daily life, ventilation systems such as air-conditioners are commonly provided in working or living spaces, e.g., office buildings and apartments, for regulating the indoor temperature in order to obtain a favorable environment for us to live.

An air conditioner includes a cooling unit mounted on a roof or a space between the roof and a ceiling of a building. The cooling unit has a cooling water line for circulating cooling water therein. A blower blows air through the cooling water line to lower a temperature of the air. Then the cooled air is distributed to rooms of the building to lower the temperature thereof.

Referring to FIG. 11, a cooling unit of a conventional air conditioner is shown. The cooling unit includes a cooling water container 2 in which a serpentine cooling water line (not labeled) extends. A driving member 4 is provided for driving cooling water to flow through the cooling water line. A plurality of blowers 6 connected with intakes of a plurality of air pipes (not shown) is used for driving air to flow across the cooling water line whereby the a temperature of the air is lowered before it is dissipated to an indoor area of a house needing to be air-conditioned. A controller 8 is provided for controlling a temperature of the indoor area via changing the operation speed of the blowers 6.

In the operation of the air conditioner, the blowers 6 drive a high temperature air in the intakes of the air pipes which is located near the roof of the house to flow across the cooling water line. The low temperature water circulated in the cooling water line exchanges sensible heat with the hot air flowing through the cool water line whereby the hot air is cooled. Then, the cooled air is transported to the indoor area of the house via the air pipes. As the high temperature air in the intakes is transported to the indoor area of the house after it is cooled by the cooling water line, there will be a negative pressure at the inlets of the air pipes. The negative pressure draws the air in the indoor to the inlets of the air pipes, from here the air is driven to flow through the cooling water lines to be cooled; then the cooled air is transported to the indoor area of the house to cool the indoor area again. The above circulation is repeated so that the people in the indoor area of the house are always provided with the air with comfortable low temperature.

However, the air conditioner is a closed system, wherein the air is circulated in the air pipes in a closed loop, without exchange with fresh outdoor air, whereby after a long period of use, the air quality could be deteriorated. Furthermore, the air conditioner can only adjust the temperature (sensible heat) of the air, but cannot adjust the humidity (latent heat) of the air, whereby the air after cooled by the cooling water line still can not give the people in the indoor area of the house a totally satisfied comfortable feeling.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a total heat exchange air conditioner for exchanging sensible and latent heat between airflows having different temperatures and humidites. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the total heat exchange air conditioner includes at least an air-providing member for providing an outlet airflow from indoors and an inlet airflow from outdoors, an air inlet passage and an air outlet passage isolating from each other for guiding the outlet and inlet airflows respectively flowing therein, a cooling refrigerant line spanning across the air inlet passage and the air outlet passage for conducting sensible heat exchange between the inlet airflow and the outlet airflow and refrigerant filled in the refrigerant line so that the temperatures of the inlet and outlet airflows are lowered after flowing through the refrigerant line. A total heat exchange core fluidically connects with both the air inlet and air outlet passages for conducting a total heat exchange between the inlet and outlet airflows before the inlet airflow flows through the refrigerant line and after the outlet airflow flows through the refrigerant line.

Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a total heat exchange air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a total heat exchange core of the total heat exchange air conditioner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a total heat exchange air conditioner in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a total heat exchange air conditioner in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a total heat exchange air conditioner in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a total heat exchange air conditioner in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a preferred embodiment of a connection manner of a plurality of air pipes and the total heat exchange core of the total heat exchange air conditioner in accordance with the above embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 8 is an explanatory view of a second embodiment of a connection manner of a plurality of air pipes and the total heat exchange core of the total heat exchange air conditioner in accordance with the above embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are explanatory views of a third embodiment of a connection manner of a plurality of air pipes and the total heat exchange core of the total heat exchange air conditioner in accordance with the above embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of a cooling unit of an air conditioner in accordance with a related art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a total heat exchange air conditioner 20 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The air conditioner 20 is positioned between a roof 31 of a house 30 and a ceiling 32 of the house 30 for conducting heat exchange between an inlet airflow from outdoors and an outlet airflow from indoors having different temperatures (sensible heat) and humidities (latent heat) from those of the inlet airflow. The air conditioner 20 includes two air blowers 21 for driving the inlet and outlet airflows flowing in an air inlet and an air outlet passage 22, 23, respectively. The air inlet and air outlet passages 22, 23 fluidically connect with a total heat exchange core 24 and a cooling water container 25 having a serpentine cooling water line extending therein, for conducting a total (sensible and latent) heat exchange between the inlet and outlet airflows.

The air inlet passage 22 includes an air inlet pipe 221 and an air-providing pipe 222. A sidewall 33 of the house 30 defines therein an air inlet opening 223 corresponding to an inlet of the air inlet pipe 221. The ceiling 32 of the house 30 defines therein an air-providing opening 224 corresponding to an outlet of the air-providing pipe 222. The inlet airflow enters in the air inlet pipe 221 of the air inlet passage 22 via the air inlet opening 223, and leaves the air-providing pipe 222 of the air inlet passage 22 for an inner space of the house 30 via the air-providing opening 224. The air outlet passage 23 includes an air outlet pipe 231 and an air-exhausting pipe 232. The ceiling 32 of the house 30 defines therein an air outlet opening (not shown) fluidically connecting with an inlet (not labeled) of one of the blowers 21 communicating with the air outlet pipe 231. The sidewall 33 of the house 30 defines therein an air-exhausting opening 233 corresponding to an outlet of the air-exhausting pipe 232. The outlet airflow enters in the air outlet pipe 231 of the air outlet passage 23 via the air outlet opening, and leaves the air-exhausting pipe 232 of the air outlet passage 23 for outside of the house 30 via the air-exhausting opening 233.

Referring to FIG. 2, the total heat exchange core 24 has a multi-layer structure formed by a plurality of laminated partition plates 241, and a plurality of zigzag, wavy spacing members 242 inserted between the partition plates 241. Typically, the partition plates 241 are specially treated papers with the capability of heat conductivity and moisture permeability and may be made from a carbon-fiber-based material such as ceramic fibers, asbestos, fiberglass impregnated with a hydrophilic material. The spacing members 242, which are made of materials such as paper, metal, or plastics, are disposed between every two adjacent partition plates 241 to maintain the spaces between the partition plates 241, with the wavy configurations of the spacing members 242 being alternately arranged at 90 degree to thereby define a first air passage extending through an outdoor air side OA and an air supplying side SA of the total heat exchange core 24 for passage of the inlet airflow and a second air passage extending through an air returning side RA and an air exhausting side EA of the total heat exchange core 24 for passage of the outlet airflow, wherein the first air passage and the second air passage intersect with respect to but not communicate with each other. Each of the air passages includes a plurality of individual channels 243 defined by the spacing members 242. The first and second air passages enable the two different airflows (i.e., inlet airflow and outlet airflow) to flow therethrough in a cross-flow manner to conduct a total heat exchange of heat and moisture therebetween as the partition plates 241 possesses the capabilities of heat conductivity and moisture permeability.

The cooling water line in the container 25 is filled with cooling water. The cooling water simultaneously exchanges heat with the inlet and outlet airflows flowing through the cooling water line to conduct sensible heat between the cooling water and the inlet and outlet airflows, whereby the inlet and outlet airflows are cooled when they flow through the cooling water line. A driving member 26 is provided for driving the cooling water to circulate in the cooling water line to continuously exchange heat with the inlet and outlet airflows. A temperature controller 27 is provided for monitoring the indoor temperature of the house, and controlling the temperature via changing the rotation speed of fans of the blowers 21 to respectively change the flowing speed of the indoor and outdoor airflows.

In the operation of the air conditioner 20 of the present invention, the blowers 21 are activated to drive the inlet and outlet airflows flowing through the air inlet and the air outlet passages 22, 23. The fresh inlet air enters into the air inlet pipe 221 of the air inlet passage 22 via the air inlet opening 223. The air inlet pipe 221 directs the inlet airflow to flow though the outdoor air side OA and the air supplying side SA of the total heat exchange core 24 to conduct total heat exchange with the outlet airflow via the total heat exchange core 24. After the total heat exchange, the inlet airflow flows across the cooling water line to exchange sensible heat with the cooling water, and enters into the house 30 via the air-providing opening 224 the air inlet passage 22. Meanwhile, the polluted outlet air enters into the air outlet pipe 231 via the air outlet opening (not shown) in the ceiling 32, the inlet of the blower 21 communicating with the air outlet pipe 231 and the cooling water line. The temperature of the polluted outlet air is lowered by the cooling water line before entering the air outlet pipe 231. Then the polluted outlet air flows through the air returning side RA and the air exhausting side EA of the total heat exchange core 24 to conduct total heat exchange with the inlet airflow via the total heat exchange core 24, and finally pours out of the house via the air-exhausting opening 233 of the air-exhausting pipe 232.

In the present invention, the total heat exchange core 24 is added to the conventional air conditioner. The blowers 21 which driving the inlet and outlet airflows to flow through the air inlet and the air outlet passages 22, 23 are provided by the conventional air conditioner 20. So there is no need to add extra air-providing members. These reduce the cost for building the present air conditioner 20. The inlet airflow enters into the inner space of house 30 and exchanges total heat of temperature and moisture with the outlet airflow. This makes the inner space of house 30 be introduced enough fresh air with comfortable temperature and humidity which improves the quality of the indoor air of the house 30. The outlet airflow exchanges sensible and latent heat with the inlet airflow. This recycles the exhausted energy of the outlet airflows, making the total heat exchange air conditioner 20 be an energy saving system.

Referring to FIG. 3, a total heat exchange air conditioner 20 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is: the air outlet pipe 231 of the air outlet passage 23 of the first embodiment is canceled. In this embodiment, the air outlet opening is formed at air returning side RA of the total heat exchange core 24. This makes the outlet airflow directly enters into the total heat exchange core 24 to conduct total heat exchange with the inlet airflow. After the total heat exchange, the outlet airflow is guided by the air-exhausting pipe 232 to pour out of the house 30 via the air-exhausting opening 233 of the air-exhausting pipe 232. In this embodiment, the air outlet opening (not shown) in the ceiling 32 is fludically connected with the air returning side RA of the total heat exchange core 24.

Referring to FIG. 4, a total heat exchange air conditioner 20 in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the air inlet passage is the same as the air inlet passage of the first embodiment. The air outlet opening (not shown) in the ceiling 32 is fluidically connected with the inlet of the blower 21 communicating with the air outlet pipe 231. Unlike the first embodiment, the air outlet pipe 231 in this embodiment does not fludicaly connects with the cooling water line in the cooling water container 25, but directly connects with the air returning side RA of the total heat exchange core 24. Accordingly, the air outlet pipe 231 in this embodiment directly directs the outlet airflow to flow through the air returning side RA and the air exhausting side EA of the total heat exchange core 24 to conduct total heat exchange with the inlet airflow via the total heat exchange core 24. After the total heat exchange, the outlet airflow is guided by the air-exhausting pipe 232 to pour out of the house via the air-exhausting opening 233 of the air-exhausting pipe 232.

Referring to FIG. 5, a total heat exchange air conditioner 20 in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the cooling water container 25 in which the cooling water line extends is so positioned that the inlet airflow first flows through the cooling water line to be cooled thereby, and then flows through the total heat exchange core 24 to have a total heat exchange with the outlet airflow. Except the above difference, the fourth embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, a total heat exchange air conditioner 20 in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown. The difference between this embodiment and the fourth embodiment is: the outlet airflow is directly guided by the air outlet pipe 231 to flow through the air returning side RA and air exhausting side EA of the total heat exchange core 24 to conduct total heat exchange with the inlet airflow via the total heat exchange core 24, without flowing through the cooling water line of the cooling water container 25.

Referring to FIG. 7, a preferred embodiment of a connection manner of a plurality of air pipes and the total heat exchange core 24 of the total heat exchange air conditioner 20 in accordance with all of the embodiments of the present invention is shown. The total heat exchange core 24 is positioned in a parallelepiped housing 244. In outer side of the housing 244, four connectors 245 for connecting the air pipes and the housing 244 are mounted to sidewalls of the housing 244 corresponding to the four sides OA, EA, SA, RA of the total heat exchange core 24, respectively. Two mesh-like dust filters 246 with photocatalyst, negative-ion generator, or active carbon are attached to the connectors 245 adjacent to the outdoor air side OA and air returning side RA of the total heat exchange core 24 for catching the dust taken by the airflows to preventing the air channels 243 of the total heat exchange core 24 from being blocked by the dust. By this design, the quality of the indoor air can further be improved. Preferably, the dust filters may further be mounted to the air inlet opening 223, the air providing opening 224, the air outlet opening (not shown), and the air-exhausting opening 233 to further improve the quality of the indoor air. In inner side of the housing 244, four supporting members 244A slantingly extend from four corners of the housing 244. Each of the supporting members 244A includes a bracket 244B hermetically contacting with a corresponding corner of the total heat exchange core 24. So the first and second air passages are isolated from each other. The inlet and outlet airflows separately flow through the first and second air passages of the total heat exchange core 24 to conduct total heat exchange therebetween via the air channels 243. In this embodiment, the four connectors 245 are mounted to four sidewalls of the housing 244, respectively. Alternatively, the four connectors 245 may be mounted to a single sidewall of the housing 244 (referring to FIG. 8). The four connectors 245 may also be mounted to top and bottom walls of the housing 244.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a third embodiment of a connection manner of a plurality of air pipes and the total heat exchange core 24 of the total heat exchange air conditioner 20 in accordance with all of the embodiments of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the four supporting members 244A of the housing 244 are perpendicularly extending from middles of the four sidewalls of the housing 244, respectively. The connectors 245 are mounted on opposite side walls of the housing 244.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A total heat exchange air conditioner comprising: at least an air-providing member for providing an outlet airflow from indoors and an inlet airflow from outdoors; an air inlet passage and an air outlet passage isolating from each other for guiding the outlet and inlet airflows respectively flowing therein; a cooling refrigerant line fluidically communicating with the air inlet passage for conducting sensible heat exchange between the inlet airflow and refrigerant filled in the refrigerant line; and a total heat exchange core fluidically connecting with the air inlet and air outlet passages for conducting total heat exchange between the inlet and outlet airflows.
 2. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 1, further comprises a temperature controller for controlling the temperature of the indoor air and output of the air-providing member.
 3. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 1, further comprises a driving member for driving the refrigerant to circulate in the refrigerant line.
 4. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the outlet airflow flows through the refrigerant line to be cooled thereby before entering the total heat exchange core to have the total heat exchange with the inlet airflow.
 5. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the inlet airflow exchanges total heat with the outlet airflow via the total heat exchange core and then exchanges sensible heat with the refrigerant.
 6. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the outlet airflow merely exchanges total heat with the inlet airflow via the total heat exchange core, without flowing through the cooling refrigerant line.
 7. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the refrigerant line also communicates with the air outlet passage, the outlet airflow flows across the refrigerant line to exchange sensible heat with the refrigerant filled in the refrigerant line.
 8. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 7, wherein the outlet airflow exchanges sensible heat with the refrigerant filled in the refrigerant line and then exchanges total heat with the inlet airflow via the total heat exchange core.
 9. A total heat exchange air conditioner comprising: at least an air-providing member for providing an outlet airflow from indoors and an inlet airflow from outdoors having different temperatures and humidities with the outlet airflow; an air inlet passage and an air outlet passage isolating from each other for guiding the outlet and inlet airflows respectively flowing therein; a cooling refrigerant line communicating with the air inlet passage for conducting sensible heat exchange between the inlet airflow and refrigerant filled in the refrigerant line; a driving member for driving the refrigerant to circulate in the refrigerant line; a temperature controller for monitoring and controlling the temperature of the indoor air and output of the air-providing member; and a total heat exchange core communicating with both the air inlet and air outlet passages for conducting total heat exchange between the inlet and outlet airflows.
 10. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 9, wherein the outlet airflow merely exchanges total heat with the inlet airflow via the total heat exchange core.
 11. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 9, wherein the refrigerant line communicates with the air outlet passage, the outlet airflow flows across the refrigerant line to exchange sensible heat with the refrigerant filled in the refrigerant line.
 12. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 11, wherein the outlet airflow exchanges sensible heat with the refrigerant filled in the refrigerant line and then exchanges total heat with the inlet airflow via the total heat exchange core.
 13. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 9, wherein the total exchange core is positioned in a housing, the housing extends four supporting members hermetically contacting with corners of the total heat exchange core.
 14. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 9, wherein two mesh-like dust filters are attached adjacent to an outdoor air side and an air returning side of the total heat exchange core for catching dust taken by the airflows.
 15. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 14, wherein the dust filters comprises one of photocatalyst, negative-ion generator, and active carbon.
 16. A total heat exchange air conditioner comprising: an air-providing member for providing an inlet airflow from an outdoor site to an indoor site and an outlet airflow from the indoor site to the outdoor site; a cooling means for cooling the inlet airflow; and a total heat exchanger for conducting a total heat exchange of sensible heat and latent heat between the inlet airflow and the outlet airflow.
 17. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 16, wherein the cooling means is also for cooling the outlet airflow before the outlet airflow has the total heat exchange with the inlet airflow in the total heat exchanger.
 18. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 16, wherein the cooling means cools the inlet airflow before the inlet airflow has the total heat exchange with the outlet airflow.
 19. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 16, wherein the cooling means cools the inlet airflow after the inlet airflow has the total heat exchange with the outlet airflow.
 20. The total heat exchange air conditioner of claim 16, wherein two filters are provided in the total heat exchanger for respectively filtering the inlet airflow before entering the total heat exchanger and filtering the outlet airflow before entering the total heat exchanger. 